Tampa FL, November 26,2008 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today they will be offering a new credit card payment plan for season ticket holders to purchase their tickets for potential home playoff games. In past seasons, it was necessary to pay for both potential home playoff games in advance. This year, season ticket holders will not be charged for the second game until the Buccaneers are guaranteed to host the NFC Championship.

"We have the best fans in the NFL and we knew this was the right thing to do after consideration of current economic conditions," said Jason Layton, Director of Ticketing and Sales.

Tampa FL, December 4, 2008 - The National Football League today announced that Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Clifton Smith was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November. During the month of November, Smith had 11 punt returns for 199 yards (18.1 avg.) and one touchdown. He also registered 16 kickoff returns for 498 yards (31.1 avg.) and one touchdown. Smith’s punt return average of 18.1 yards this season ranks first in the NFL and his 31.1 yard kickoff return average ranks second in the NFL. He is also the only player in the NFL to have a kickoff return for a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown this season.

Tampa FL, December 1, 2008 - The NFL’s International Series of regular-season games will return to the United Kingdom in 2009 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the New England Patriots, the NFL announced today. The game will be played on Sunday, October 25 at Wembley Stadium in London with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

CLEARWATER, FL. December 12, 2008 - The Greektown Grill, a recent addition to Clearwater's downtown dining options and a welcome anchor in the city's East Gateway, has earned the City's Fall Business Beautification Recognition Award for 2008.

The building now occupied by the new restaurant at 1230 Cleveland St., has been completely renovated with a new facade, banquet area, a covered outdoor eating area, and a large dining room that includes the kitchen and bar. Outdoor lighting illuminates newly installed signs and provides a dramatic look for the buildings at night.

The award, presented in partnership with the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, acknowledges a business that makes a commitment to improving the quality of life for all residents in Clearwater. The Business Beautification Recognition Award program honors the uniqueness of Clearwater businesses and encourages the business community to maintain or make significant improvements to their properties while providing the surrounding community with a positive sense of place.

TAMPA, FL December 12, 2008 — With winter break quickly approaching, parents might be wondering how to keep their aspiring young directors occupied. Mom and Dad, tell your high school students about The Second Annual Director’s Chair, a contest in which Florida students submit commercials to promote Ask a Librarian. Ask a Librarian is a free online service that allows the public to chat with a librarian for help with homework or general questions.

Floridians in ninth through 12th grade are invited to submit to YouTube a 30-second video promoting Ask a Librarian by Jan. 17, 2009, for the chance to win a digital video camera, a digital camera or an iPod Shuffle with an iTunes gift card.

“We hope students will put the finishing touches on their videos during their holiday vacation,” said Diana Sachs-Silveira, virtual reference manager of Ask a Librarian. “We know how creative teens can be, especially after seeing last year’s entries, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with this year.”

CLEARWATER, FL December 12, 2008 - The City of Clearwater is offering $100 honorariums, cash prizes and gift certificates to Tampa Bay area artists who create baseball-themed banner artworks for display on downtown lamp posts The designs will be on display from February to April 2009 and will celebrate the return of Spring Training baseball and Clearwater's 60 year relationship with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Clearwater FL, December 12, 2008 - The Sunscreen Film Festival Film School has announced a brand new program for new and existing film makers. It will cover the process of making a film from concept to public screening.

"Technology is democratizing film making," said Tony Armer, director of the Festival. "Anyone with an off-the-shelf video camera and a PC editing program can come up with a pretty entertaining film. Just look at YouTube. We want to help people learn and enjoy the collaborative art of making films."

Armer added that the course is available to all. No prior experience is necessar. Additionally, it's geared to use equipment readily available to anyone at reasonable prices.

Tampa Bay FL, March 2008 - Tourism…the Port…Phosphate…Citrus…Construction…These are some of the industries that come to mind when we think about the ones that contribute significantly to our local economy. It is time to add a new industry to that list, an industry that brings over $521.3 million annually to our region. Not only does this industry pump a significant amount of money into our local economy, it provides a diversity of benefits to add to the quality of life in Tampa Bay.

This major industry is THE ARTS. The Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (“TBBCA”) recently announced the results of a professional study of the economic impact of the arts in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. This is the first measure of arts impact on the two counties since the original joint study conducted in 1999. The report was sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and conducted by the PwC Sports, Convention and Leisure Practice.

Clearwater Downtown Partnership Celebrates the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce 2008 Business of the Year Awards

PostcardMania and Sunbelt Software Founders achieve recognition for best business practices and exemplary growth by the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce at the organization’s annual business awards dinner.

Clearwater, FL, 4 February 2008 — A crowd of about 500 chamber members and guests attended The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 86th Annual Meeting held on January 31, 2008 at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club to celebrate the achievements of many business and civic leaders whom have made a positive impact on the community. Two CEOs of the 5 winners were executive board members of the Clearwater Downtown Partnership (CDP) — Joy Gendusa and Stu Sjouwerman. Hailed as the fastest-growing direct mail postcard marketing firm in the nation by Inc Magazine, PostcardMania was honored as the 2008 Large In-State Business of the Year.

Tallahassee FL, November 2007 - Senator Mike Fasano and his colleagues have returned to Tallahassee to prepare for the voters a newly proposed constitutional amendment pertaining to property taxes. This past September a circuit judge in Leon County tossed out the Florida Legislature’s previous joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Florida Constitution revising the manner in which property taxes are assessed in Florida. With this action undoing the work of a special legislative session held in June, the Florida Legislature was given a deadline of October 30, 2007 to revise the proposed amendment if consideration of that amendment is to be made available to voters for the January 29, 2008 presidential primary. The Legislature has now wrapped up its latest special session by offering a newly written constitutional amendment.